The training grounds of the Azure Vein Sect were alive with the sounds of exertion. Disciples of every rank ran drills, sparred with partners, and tested formations under the watchful eyes of instructors. Yet, Kael's presence drew a different kind of attention—a faint pulse of curiosity from those who had glimpsed his unusual progress in the Rune Pavilion.
Today was not mere practice. It was the first trial of combat runes—a controlled duel to test mastery under pressure. The elders had gathered to observe, their faces neutral, but their expectations palpable.
Kael stood at the center of the circular arena, jade slip secured to his waist. His soul sea vibrated lightly, feeling the presence of the runes within. Ice Bullet, Barrier, Ice Bind. The combination of offense, defense, and control was all he had, and each would be tested rigorously.
Across from him, his opponent entered: Linshar, a senior disciple from the outer grounds, known for his speed and sword technique. Linshar's eyes flicked to Kael, a mixture of curiosity and disdain. He had heard whispers—mortal without dantian, yet permitted to wield runes? His lips curled in a slight sneer.
"Ready?" Linshar's voice was sharp, challenging.
Kael nodded, focusing inward. Name the rune, and it manifests. Simple, but unforgiving.
The trial began.
Linshar lunged forward, blade flashing with raw speed. Kael's soul sea surged. "Grade 1 Rune: Barrier!" A translucent wall rose instantly before him, absorbing the initial strike. Sparks danced where steel met energy, and Kael felt the familiar strain as the rune pressed against the boundaries of his soul sea.
He countered immediately. "Grade 1 Rune: Ice Bullet!" A shard of ice formed midair, pointed and gleaming. It shot forward with deadly precision, slicing through Linshar's guard. Linshar twisted midair, barely avoiding the projectile, his speed forcing Kael to summon the rune again to adjust trajectory—a taxing maneuver.
The observers murmured. No mortal had ever wielded runes in real combat with such fluidity. Yet they noted the subtle cracks of strain on Kael's face. Every rune used extracted a toll from his soul sea, and his essence flowed faster than it had during practice.
Linshar pressed the advantage. He darted around the arena, weaving unpredictably, testing Kael's ability to respond. Kael's mind raced. Ice Bind—he needed control now.
"Grade 1 Rune: Ice Bind!" Chains of ice erupted from the ground, snaking toward Linshar. The senior disciple spun, narrowly avoiding the tendrils, but one grazed his shoulder, a warning rather than a hit. Kael's heart pounded; the rune had stabilized, but just barely. One more mistake, and the fracture in his soul sea could be catastrophic.
The system interface glimmered faintly before his vision:
Soul Sea Capacity: 3/4
Runes Mastered:
Ice Bullet: Offensive projectile, 10s cooldown
Barrier: Defensive wall, 5s duration, 1 min cooldown
Ice Bind: Immobilizing chain, 10s duration
Kael reminded himself: he could only rely on what was inscribed. There were no shortcuts, no improvisations beyond the four slots.
Linshar struck again. Kael raised the Barrier, the rune shimmering under the force of multiple blows. He felt the pulse in his soul sea—a warning of overload. The cracks from prolonged use threatened to widen. Pain lanced through his mind, memories and focus flickering, but Kael drew on his essence and willpower, reinforcing the rune's stability internally.
A brief pause. Kael's mind sharpened. Observation, analysis, and timing: that was his advantage. Mortal though he was, his soul sea gave him clarity others could not match.
He unleashed the Ice Bullet in rapid succession, calculating angles, timing each strike with precision. Linshar moved quickly, deflecting some, dodging others, but Kael's analytic mind anticipated patterns that the sword disciple could not break.
"Focus… mind and essence… timing…" Kael whispered internally. The rune's vibration pressed against his soul sea again, threatening pain, but he endured. Every success reinforced the connection, every failure taught him limits.
Finally, an opening. Linshar lunged aggressively, leaving a narrow gap in his movement. Kael combined the runes. "Ice Bind! Ice Bullet!" The chain struck first, snaring Linshar's leg. At the same instant, the ice projectile flew, striking the immobilized target and pinning him against the Barrier.
The arena fell silent. Even the elders leaned forward, their eyes narrowing. Kael had succeeded—not through raw power, but through control, strategy, and understanding of his soul sea's limitations.
Linshar rose slowly, brushing ice from his armor, his expression unreadable. "Well… not bad," he admitted. "For a mortal."
Kael exhaled, essence still thrumming through his body, his soul sea expanding slightly from the strain. Victory was not without cost, but it was proof. The Grade 1 runes were now battle-ready, integrated into him, and capable of being summoned in real combat.
The elder overseeing the trial stepped forward. "Kael," he said, voice low and deliberate, "you have done well. But remember this: mastery is not about winning a single fight. It is about surviving countless battles, maintaining your soul, and understanding the runes you wield. Each Grade 2 rune will test more than your mind. They will test the endurance of your very essence."
Kael bowed, acknowledging the warning. He had proven his current level, but he knew the road ahead was far more perilous. Grade 1 was only the beginning.
As he left the arena, the system interface blinked, updating in real-time:
Soul Sea Capacity: 3/4 → 3/4 (Stabilized after battle)
Runes Mastered: Ice Bullet, Barrier, Ice Bind
Experience Gained: Battle-tested, timing and sequencing improved
Next Goal: Master a fourth rune for low-stage combat versatility
Kael's thoughts turned inward. He had survived the first trial, but each battle was a lesson in the limitations of mortality without a dantian. His soul sea was his only anchor, and every rune inscribed within it came at a cost.
And yet, for the first time, Kael felt the faint thrill of strategy, of combining knowledge and essence in the heat of battle. The world of runes had opened to him, and he would navigate it carefully, deliberately, building mastery one rune at a time.
The path ahead was long. Every trial, every scroll, every battle would shape him. And Kael, mortal though he was, knew he had only begun to grasp the power of the soul sea—the foundation of his runic dominion.